The Chase in Writing

This afternoon, as I walked back to my townhouse after class, I noticed that I had something in my mailbox – not a common occurrence. Excitedly, I opened it to find this simple note written on a folded piece of lined paper, “But the Greatest of these is LOVE.” It was anonymous. I stood there for a minute, smiling in appreciation as well as curiosity. But I was caught up in trying to figure out whom it came from and why they sent it. I spent a lot of time trying to find the answers to these questions… Now, I would just say that I might be more willing to believe that God does send us letters, just written in someone else’s writing. But instead of jumping ahead, let me share the details of my newest lesson with you… I don’t have the slightest idea who put this note in my mailbox. I don’t even know if it was someone who knows me, or simply a random act of encouragement to a random mailbox number. Nor do I know why they chose to write these words. And to be honest, it’s been driving me nuts all evening! I’ve examined the handwriting to see if I can recognize it as belonging to one of my friends. I have considered the paper it’s written on and the type of notebook it must have come from, as well as the fact that it belonged to a person who didn’t mind leaving the fray on the edge. I have taken into account the choice of a purple marker as the writing utensil, and that the stroke marks indicate that this marker had a damaged tip (hey, I learned something in my forensics class!). I noticed that the author took care to color in the heart with parallel shading. I observed that my box number was written with a blue, ballpoint pen… deducing that the sender had to look up my number in the directory at the post office window. I had even started to believe that I had a couple suspects in mind, if it did in fact come from someone I know. Then, I left my room for a while, with this little note lying open on top of my desk. When I returned a few hours later, I glanced down at it and pondered the words. Again, I wondered who had sent this and why. I know the truth within this Scriptural quote, and it is always a great reminded, but why today? Then, as I looked up from the note, my eyes landed immediately on the picture frame setting on the back corner of my desk. This picture has been there all year, and I suppose, in psychological terms, you could say I have become desensitized to its presence. But tonight, it seemed to have a spotlight igniting the words in the top right, “The greatest of these is Love”. The three pictures it holds include my family, and two sweet little ones from the other side of the world… six people that will forever hold a very important place in my heart. I was reminded of how much I am loved, by my earthly family and our Heavenly Father, and how blessed I have been to be able to love in return. It was like I needed this note to draw my attention to the truth and affirmation that has been literally in front of my face every day. The sender of this note, whoever he or she may be, probably did not have the slightest inkling that this was the impact it would have. I suppose that to anyone besides me, it may not even hold much weight. But to me, it was the very reminder of truth that I needed today. See, for the past couple days, I have noticed myself feeling insignificant, unimportant, inadequate, and insecure. The lies of Satan were sneaking into my head and stealing, piece by piece, my true identity in Christ. But far greater than these lies and negative feelings is the love of God and its manifestations in our lives. We are so deeply and perfectly loved… and we have the pleasure of loving Him and others in return. To whoever sent that note (even though you will likely never stumble upon this journal), thank you for following God’s nudge and placing these words at my fingertips today. And to whoever may be reading this truth right now, I hope it uplifts you like it has uplifted me.